Method and machine for manufacturing hat bodies



April 29, 1952 M. T. HOFFMAN METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING HAT BODIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 6, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

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red T l-lof A ril 29, 1952 Filed Jan. 6, 1949 M. T. HOFFMAN METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING HAT BODIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Manfred T Hoffman April 29, 1952 M. T. HOFFMAN 2,594,558

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING HAT BODIES Filed Jan. 6, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N VEN TOR. Manfred T. Hoffman April 29, 1952 M. T. HOFFMAN 94,

METHOD AND MACHINE-FOR MANUFACTURING HAT BODIES Filed Jan. 6, 1949 '4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F 4 INVENTOR.

i7 Manfred THoffman Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT FFECE METHOD AND MACHINE FOR MANUFAfi- TUBING HAT BODIES Manfred 'I. Hoffman, N ewburyport, Mass.

Application January 6, 1949, Serial No. 69,444 In Great Britain January 7, 1948 21 Claims.

rollers, which impart their rotary motion to the forming block, causing the forming block to be rotated about the longitudinal axis thereof. The forming block is longer than the width of the web which is being wound about it and, while the web-winding operation is performed, the block is continually swung about a vertical axis near the center thereof. Owing to said swinging motion of the forming block, the web is caused to be traversed edgewise of the forming block and to be wound spirally thereon, the edge-near portions of the carded web overlapping at the narrow ends of the forming block. Felt blanks are formed by winding in the aforesaid manner a plurality of layers of carded web upon a forming block. Upon having reached the desired thickness the felt blanks which are in the shape of a double cone are cut through around the center of the forming block, thus forming two separate cone-shaped felt blanks. These separate blanks are, thereupon, subjected to a hardening process involving the application of a rubbing action and of damp heat, preferably steam under pressure.

It is a general object of my present invention to provide a method and machinery for manufacturing hat bodies more efficient than those which were in use heretofore.

Another general object of my present invention is to simplify the manufacture of hat bodies by performing simultaneously certain steps in the manufacturing process which, heretofore had been performed sequentially.

A further general object of my present invention is to reduce the time required for making hat bodies and to reduce the cost of labor.

Still another object of my present invention is to improve the hardening of felt blanks used in the manufacture of hat bodies by hardening the felt blanks on the forming block, preferably while in the process of being formed thereon rather than upon having been formed on and removed from the forming block.

In the process according to the present invention at least one portion of the felt blank is hardened while the blank is carried on the form- 2 ing block and while the block is being rotated in its cradle structure formed by a bed of conical driven rollers. fhe hardening process may be performed on the forming block after the desired thickness of felt has been wound upon it but prior to cutting of the felt blank and removal of its two halves resulting from said cutting operation from the forming block. Preferably the hardening process is effected simultaneously with the winding of the carded fiber web upon the forming block. To this end each individual layer of the fiber web which goes into the felt blank is subjected to a rubbing action and damp heat treatment prior to winding 21, successive layer thereon. It is desirable to combine the rubbing action with the application of steam under pressure.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully apparent from the particular description thereof, in conjunction with the appended drawings which show, in

preferred forms, the several novel mechanisms of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. lis a front viw, partly in vertical section, of a machine for forming felt blanks for hat bodies and hardening said blanks adapted to practice the method of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in vertical section, of the forming and hardening machine shown in Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to those of Fig. 1 and 2 of a modified machine for forming felt blanks for hat bodies and hardening said blanks.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a nozzle used for producing air jets for removing the cut portions of the hardened felt blanks from the forming block.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of a detail pertaining to the structure of Figs. 1 and 2, and

Fig. 7 is a vertical section through an electromagnetical vibrator used for operating the hardening means of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings the mechanisms of the invention have been shown as applied to a forming machine of the general typr; disclosed, for instance, in United States Patents No. 212,910, issued March 4, 1897, and No. 2,323,234, issued June 29, 1943. My invention, however, is not limited to the particular type of forming apparatus which is disclosed in the aforementioned patents to which, however, reference may be had to supplement the instant description of this particular type of forming apparatus.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, the base I carries a U-shaped frame 2 having a bearing 3 at the upper end thereof. Bearing 3 and another similar bearing (not shown) are adapted to receive pivot posts permitting form-supporting frame 4 to swing about a vertical axis. The machine is further provided with driving means (not shown) of a type more fully described in the aforementioned patents for swinging the formsupporting frame 4 continuously about the vertical axis defined by said bearings and pivot posts.

The forming block 5 which is substantially in the shape of a double cone, i. e. a pair of coaxial cones abutted at their large ends, rests loosely upon a cradle or bed of four conical rollers 6. Rollers 6 which have the shape of truncated cones are supported by brackets 'l and 8-. Rollers 6 are continuously rotatively driven about their respective individual longitudinal axes to rotate forming block 5 about its horizontal or longitudinal axis, whereby a carded web (not shown) is caused to be wrapped about block 5. The driving means for rotating conical rollers 6 may be of a type more fully described in the aforementioned patents and include a gear S fixed on the end of shaft 20 which is journaled in bracket 1. Drive shaft Hl has gearing connections (not shown) with the pair of conical rollers 6 sup-- ported by bracket 7. The conical rollers 6 which are supported by bracket 7 drive the conical rollers 6 which are supported by bracket 8 by means of ring gears (not shown) which are provided at the bases of said rollers.

The form-supporting frame 4 comprises a horizontal arm I l which is pivotally connected to it by studs [2. The roller-supporting brackets I and 8 are arranged at opposite sides of arm i I and pivotally supported by it by means of studs I2. The V-shaped cradle which is formed by the four conical rollers 6 may be adjusted for accommodating different sizes of forming blocks by means well known in the art, these means including means for changing the inclination of brackets 1 and 8.

Rollers 6 are provided each with an electromagnetical vibrator 13 for "oscillating the rollers 6 along their respective longitudinal axis while maintaining the same in linear engagement with forming block 5. While vibrators l3 may be of any suitable type, electromagnetical vibrators as, for instance, shown in Fig. 7, have been found to be most suitable for the purpose in hand. The vibrators l3, of which one is associated with each conical roller i, actuate bell-crank levers M which are pivoted about pins I5 supported by brackets 7 and 8, respectively. The vibrators are clearly shown, for instance, in Fig. 3, while Fig. 1 shows merely the bell-crank levers M which are actuated by them and which in turn impart their oscillatory motion to rollers 6. Bell-crank levers M are adapted to engage a groove it formed by an operating element H on the shafts i8 of each conical roller 6:. Shafts I8 of rollers 6 are hollow and adapted to supply a heating fluid as, for instance, steam under pressure to rollers 6. Rollers 6 are made of a porous material, e. g. porous carborundum, or are perforated, permitting the passage of the heating fluid, preferably steam, to the felt blank which is in the process of being formed or has been formed on forming block 5. Rollers 6 may be connected to any suitable source of steam by means of flexible steam hoses [9 having one end thereof secured to brackets 1 and 8, respectively.

It will be noted that the axial oscillations of conical rollers 6 and the steam treatment combined with these oscillations result in hardening only of the conical portions of the felt blank which are formed on the conical portions of the forming block 5, while the spherical portions of the felt blank which are formed on the spherical portions or tips Ea of the forming block 5 are not affected by the operation of rollers 6 since these latter portions of the felt blank are situated outside of the range of action of rollers 6. It is possible to harden the spherical tips of the felt blank in the conventional way upon severing the felt blank around the large middle portion thereof and removing the severed portions from block 5.

Figs. 1 and 2 show means for hardening the spherical end portions of the felt blank formed on block 5 before severing the blank into two hat bodies and removing these bodies from block 5. This is effected by means of tippers 29 the inner surfaces of which are concave and adapted to engage the spherical or convex end surfaces or tips 5a of forming block 5. One tipper 29 is arranged at each end of forming block and both tippers 20 operate in exactly the same way. Each tipper 20 is supported by a frame structure comprising lateral arms 2|. Extending through these arms 2| are slots 22 in which are arranged transverse pivot pins 23. The frame structure comprising arms 2| is supported by a frame structure comprising lateral arms 24 having longitudinal slots 25. Arms 2| and tippers 26 are adapted to swing about pins 23 which are supported on the lower ends of arms 24. Each pair of arms 24 is interconnected by a cross-member 26 which carries an electromagnetical. vibrator 21. The vibrators 21 are provided with operating rods 28 which are secured by pins 26 to brackets 36 which form integral parts of the tippers 2G. The mechanical vibrations of vibrators 21 cause a rotary movement of tippers 20 about pins 23 relative to arms 24 and forming block 5'. Arms 24 are supported by the ends of shaft 3| engaging slots 25 and fixedly adjusted therein. Each pair of arms 24 is spaced by means of cross-member 32 and adapted to be operated by a bell-crank operating arm 33 supporting said cross-members 32. Each bell-crank operating arm 33 is journaled by a pin 34 to one of the brackets 7 and 8, respectively. Each of both bell-crank operating arms 33. is acted upon by a spring bias means 35 tending to rotate it about pin 34 in such a way as to cause tippers 20 to become disengaged from forming block 5. The spring bias means 35 acting upon the operating arm 33 shown on the left side of Fig. 1 tend to rotate said arm in a counterclockwise direction, while the spring means 35 acting upon the operating arm 33 shown on the right side of Fig. I tend to rotate said arm in a clockwise direction. Rails 36 are fixedly mounted on base I and adapted to be engaged by the tips 31 of bell-crank operating arms 33. It is apparent from the foregoing that bias means 35 tend to maintain tippers 20 in an idle position, i. e. out of engagement of the spherical ends 5a of the forming block 5. In their idle position tippers 26 permit applying the web to the spherical ends of forming block 5. Rails 36 and the tips 31 of arms 33 cooperate in the manner of a cam and cam follower. As clearly shown in Fig. 6, rails 36 decrease in curvature from one of their ends to the other. In Fig. 6 the center of the upper dotted circular line coincides with the center or vertical axis about which form-supporting frame 4 is caused to swing. The web-feeding direction is from left to right. Rails 36 are arranged in such a way that one end thereof extends into the trajectory of the swinging movement of arms 33 about the axis of swinging frame 4. The upper dotted circular line in Fig. 6 indicates the trajectory of one of the tips 37 on one of the arms 33 prior to engagement of rail 36 by that tip 31. As arms 33 are moved by the swinging movement of frame 4, the slanting edges of tips 31 engage the inner surface of rails 36 close to one of the ends thereof. The tips 31 are adapted to be moved to the other side of rails 36 on continued swinging of frame l in the same direction. Continued movement of frame 4 in opposite direction as heretofore causes rotation of arms 33 about pins 34 resulting in engagement of tippers Ml with spherical ends 5a of forming block 5 against the action of spring bias means 35. When arms 33 reach the ends of rails 36 opposite the ends of initial engagement of rails 36 by tips 31, tips 31 are disengaged from rails 36 by the action of springs 35, and then tippers 20 are moved out of engagement of spherical ends 5a of forming blocks 5. Fig. 6 shows in dotted lines the complete trajectory of one of the tips 31., which ineludes the portion thereof when tip 31 is engaged by rail or cam means 36, and the portion thereof when tip 3'! is disengaged from rail 36. Each tip 3'! moves in one direction, is then engaged by the rail 36 and moves in engagement therewith in opposite direction, then leaves the rail, and then resumes its circular motion until it is again engaged by the rail 36. Stops not shown in the drawing limit the inward movement of arms 33 under the action of springs 35 to cause reengagement of tips 31 and rails 36 upon repeated foreward movement of the arms 33. The length of rails 36 is selected in such a way that the tippers 20 are permitted to separate under the action of springs 35 from the spherical ends 5a of forming block 5 during the interval of time when the adjacent edge of the carded web which is being wound upon the.

forming block is situated adjacent to the spherical ends 5a, so as not to preclude winding of said web upon said ends.

It will be noted that pivot pins- 23 define an axis of oscillation for the tippers 2B which is arranged at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the forming block 5 and intersects this axis at the center of curvature of the spherical ends 5a of forming block 5. Slots 22 in arms 2| permit the readjustment of the axis about which tippers 26 are caused to oscillate in case that a forming block is substituted for another forming block having different dimensions.

The tippers or friction elements 20 are hol-" low and adapted to be supplied with steam under pressure through flexible hoses 38. The spherical surfaces 20a of the tippers or friction elements 23 are porous or perforated so as to permit the passage of steam therethrough. Said surfaces may, for instance, consist of porous or perforated metal or of porous carborundum.

The oscillatory movement of the porous hardening surfaces 200. of tippers 20 caused by vibrators 21 is at right angles to the rotary movement of the web on forming block 5 about the longitudinal axis thereof.

Upon complete hardening of the conical and spherical portions of the felt blank which is being formed on the forming block 5 the felt blank is severed along the large middle portion of forming block 5. This severing operation can either be effected manually or by one of the known mechanisms which have been devised-for that purpose, e. g. the mechanism disclosed and claimed in United States Patent No. 2,099,330.

I have discovered that removal of the severed portions of the hardened felt blank can be effected much more eii'iciently than heretofore by means of substantially opposite angular jets of fluid, e. g.,air under pressure. When the felt blank is cut the two conical portions resulting from the severing operation may be caused to separate slightly by continued rotation of the forming block 5 about its longitudinal axis. The gap 206 thus formed between the two conical hat bodies still being carried by forming block 5 may be enlarged by a jet 4-6 of fluid under pressure issuing from nozzle body l! arranged close to the middle of forming block 5. This is shown in Fig. 3 and the nozzle. body 41 is shown in Fig. 5 on a larger scale. When the separation between the two conical hat bodies is large enough, two angular jets 48 of fluid under pressure issuing from two angularly arranged bores 49 in nozzle body l! effect ejection in. opposite directions of said hat bodies from forming block 5. Nozzle body 47 is supplied with fluid under pressure from a source (not shown) by means of a flexible hose 53- having a tubular extension 52. It will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art that this method and these means for removing conical out felt blanks or hat bodies from a form ing block may be used separately without applying the other features of my invention, as for instance, hardening rollers 6 and 6a, and hardening tippers 23.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is as follows. The forming block 5 is supplied with a carded web from a suitable websource, preferably directly from a cardin machine (not shown). Forming block 5 is rotated about its horizontal or longitudinal axis by the two pairs of conical rollers 6 by which it is supported. As forming block 5 rotates it is continually swung back and forth by pivoted frame 4 about the vertical pivot axis. By reason of this swinging movement of block 5 the web which is supplied to it is wound spirally around its surface alternately from one tip 5a of the block to its opposite tip 5a. The edge-near portions of the web are laid over the tips 5a. of block 5 while tips 5a are close to their rearmost positions. Oscillation of conical steam-penetrated rollers 6 in the direction of their respective longitudinal,

axis causes hardening of the conical portions of the felt blank while it is in the process of being formed by successive layers of, carded web. Oscillation of the concave steam-penetrated rubbing elements or tippers 26 causes hardening of the spherical portions of the felt blank which are formed on the tips 5a of forming block 5. It is possible, if'desired, not to oscillate rollers 6 and tippr sii and not to supply these elements with steam under pressure until a SllfilClBIlt thickness of the web has been wound upon the forming block, and only thereafter starting the rubbing and steam treating process by which the felt blank is hardened. Upon sufficient hardening of the felt blank the latter is cut through along the circular line of intersection of the two conical surfaces of block 5, and the two conical hat bodies formed. by so severing the felt blank are quickly removed by two substantially opposite jets,of gas under pressure, whereupon the machine is ready for the manufacture of another pair of. hat bodies.

The machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is capable ofhardening the whole surface of hat bodies, 1. e.

the conical portion of their surface as well as the spherical portion thereof. The machineshown in Figs. 3 and a is designed for hardening only the conical portion of the surface of the hat bodies. Therefore the hat bodies made with this machine must be hardened at their tip or spherical portion in the same way as heretofore upon their removal from the forming block. In spite of this limitation of the machine of Figs. 3 and 4, its use results in a great increase of elficiency as compared to the efficiency obtained. with hat body manufacturing methods and machines which were used heretofore.

In Figs. 3 and 4 the same reference numerals as in Figs. 1 and 2 have been applied to designate like parts, and therefore only those elements of the structure shown in Figs. 3 and 4 will be described in detail which differ from those shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The forming block 5 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 rests on four rollers G in the shape and truncated cones which form a cradle structure for supporting and rotating forming block 5. At least one of the conical rollers 6 on each side of the formin block 5 should be adapted to be oscillated along its respective axis of rotation and internally heat-ed by steam or another fluid under pressure, and have aporous or perforated surface for permitting fluid under pressure to penetrate from the inside to the outside toward the surface of forming block 5. Preferably all the rollers 6 which form the forming block-supporting and rotating cradle are constructed in this way. In order to achieve more rapid and better hardening of the felt blank formed on the formin block two additional conical hardening rollers 6a are arranged on the upper side of block 5. Hardening cones 6a are in linear engagement with the conical portions of forming block 5 and are rotatable about shafts ifia. Each hardening cone 8a is supported by a bracket 39 having a hub 4m engaged by pivot pin 4i. Pivot pins ti are supported by post 42. Brackets 43 on post ii support each a fluid motor comprising a cylinder 44 and a piston (not shown) operatively arranged therein. Cylinders 44 can be supplied with fluid under pressure, preferably compressed air, from a source of fluid under pressure (not shown) through flexible hoses 5i. Piston rods iii attached to said pistons are secured to brackets 39 for the purpose of pivoting brackets 39 about pins ll to cause disengagement of conical hardening rollers Go. from forming block 5. Each bracket 39 carries an electromagnetic vibrator 43a adapted to operate a bellcrank lever hid pivoted about a pin l'zia. Bellcrank levers Ma are each adapted to engage a groove lea formed by an operating element Ila on the shaft lea of each said conical hardening rollers 6a. The surfaces of rollers 6c are porous or perforated and the shafts lira supporting roll-- ers (in are hollow and adapted to supply said rollers with steam under pressure in the same way and for the same purpose as rollers B are being supplied with steam under pressure. Rollers 6a are oscillated in the direction of their respective axis of rotation lilo by vibrators l3a while rota-ting about said axis 18a. There is no need for a gear drive for rollers Ea since rotary motion is being imparted to them by forming block 5.

The mode of operation of the machine of Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A felt blank is formed on forming block 5 and hardened by rollers 6 and 6a either while in the process of being formed, or upon being formed the cylinders 44 of the two fluid motors for separating conical rollers Ea from forming block 5 in order to avoid interference of said rollers with the removal of the cut felt blank from the forming block. Upon separation of the conical rollers Bat from the forming block the conical hardened hat bodies formed thereon may either be removed manually or by jets of fluid under pressure as described more in detail in connection with Figs. 1 and 2.

While it is possible to cause the aforementioned oscillatory motions of the hardening elements 6, to and 29 by means of different kinds of vibrators, I prefer to use electromagnetic vibrators of a kind similar to that described in United States Patent No. 2,116,367 to E. W. Smith. Such a vibrator has been shown in Fig. '7.

Reference numeral l3 indicates the vibrator in general. Vibrator I3 comprises a stationary shell 60. Shell 58 of each vibrator i3 is supposed to be rigidly attached to members 8, 24 and 39, respectively, shown in Figs. 1 to i. Each shell 69 of a vibrator l3 supports pole pieces 8! and an energizing coil 62 by means of bolts 83. These elements form the electromagnetic field of the vibrator whose armature is shown at 64. Armature 64 is engaged by spring 65 which rests upon shell 66. The operating arm 28 of each armature 64 is adapted to operate either one of the hardening rolls 6, 6a, or one of the hardening tippers 20. Oscillations of each of the armatures 64 are caused by supplying its energizing coil 62 with A. C. current of the requisite frequency. The frequency of the mechanical vibra tions set up by vibrators l8 will be twice the frequency of the current energizing the fields El, 62. The frequency of the energizing current of coils 62 which must be supplied in order to ob tain resonance must be one half of the natural resonant frequency of the system.

It will be understood that by illustrating herein two preferred forms of apparatus for practicing the process of invention, I do not intend to limit my invention thereto. It will further be understood that while the arrangements de scribed and illustrated herein are the preferred embodiments of my invention, the same may take forms other than specifically shown and described herein. It will be apparent for those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. In the of manufacturing hat bodies the steps of causing a forming block to rotate. of winding a plurality of layers of a carded web on said rotating block to form a felt blank thereon, and of hardening at least a portion of said felt blank by damp heat and friction while said blank is being carried on said block and while said block is being rotated.

2. In the process of manufacturing hat bodies the steps of causing a forming block to rotate, of spirally winding a plurality of layers of carded web on said rotating block to form a felt blank,

and of increasing the adherence to each other of successive layers of said felt blank by subjecting each individual layer thereof to damp heat and friction prior to winding a successive layer thereon.

3. In the process of manufacturing hat bodies the steps of causing a forming block to rotate, of spirally winding a plurality of layers of carded web on said rotating block to form a felt blank, and of increasing the adherence to each other of successive layers of said felt blank bysubjecting each individual layer thereof simultaneously to steam treatment and rubbing action prior to winding a successive layer thereon.

4. In the process of manufacturing hat bodies the steps of causing a forming block to rotate, of winding a carded web on said rotating block to form a felt blank thereon, and of subjecting portions of said felt blank while being rotated by said block to steam treatment and to an oscillatory rubbing action in a direction generally transverse of the direction of rotation of said block.

5. In the process of manufacturing hat bodies the steps of causing a forming block to rotate,

of winding a carded web on said rotating block 7 to form a felt blank thereon, and of subjecting portions of said felt blank at a plurality of points spaced longitudinally thereof to steam treatment and to an oscillatory rubbing action in a direction different from the direction of rotation of said block.

6. In the process of manufacturing hat bodies '7. In the process of manufacturing hat bodies the steps of causing a forming block to rotate, of winding a carded web on said rotating block to form a felt blank thereon, of hardening a portion only of said felt blank while being supported on said block and said block is being rotated, of cutting said felt blank into two equal parts and removing said parts from said block, and thereafter hardening the previously non-hardened portion of each said parts.

8. In the process of manufacturing hat bodies the steps of causing a forming block to rotate, of spirally winding a plurality of layers of carded web on said rotating block to form'a felt blank.

thereon, of hardenin at least a portion of said blank while rotating on said forming block by friction and damp heat, of severing said blank upon hardening thereof around the circumference of the middle portion of said forming block, and of introducing a pair of angular jets of fluid under pressure into the spaces between said forming block and the severed portions of the hardened blank to cause ejection thereof from said forming block.

9. In the process of manufacturing hat bodies the steps of causing a forming block to rotate, of spirally windin a plurality of layers of carded web on said rotating block to form a felt blank thereon, of severing said blank around the circumference of the middle portion of said forming block, and of introducing a pair of angular jets of fluid under pressure into the spaces between said forming block and the severed portions of said blank to cause ejection thereof from said forming block.

10. In the process of manufacturing hat bodies the steps of causing a forming block to rotate, of spirally winding a plurality of layers of a carded web on said rotating block to form a felt blank thereon, of hardening at least a portion of said blank while being carried on said block and while said block is being rotated, of severing said blank around the middle thereof to form two equal parts, of widening the gap formed between said parts by a jet of fluid under pressure, and of removing said parts from said forming block by directing a pair of angular jets of fluid under pressure into the spaces between said forming block and said parts.

11. In the process of manufacturing hat bodies the steps of causing a forming block to rotate, of spirally winding a carded web on said rotating block to form a felt blank thereon, of severing said blank around the middle thereof into two equal parts, of widening the gap formed between said parts by directing thereagainst a jet of fluid under pressure, and of ejecting said parts from said forming block by directing a pair of angular jets of fluid under pressure into the spaces between said formin block and said parts.

12. In combination with a machine for manufacturing hat bodies, a forming device including a rotatable forming block in the shape of a pair of coaxial conical surfaces abutted at the large ends thereof, and a pair of conical hardening rollers, each adapted to rotate about the respective longitudinal axis thereof and each in linear engagement with one of said pair of conical surfaces of said forming block, and means for caus ing each said hardening rollers to oscillate in the direction of the respective axis of rotation thereof.

13. In combination with a machine for manufacturing hat bodies, a forming device including a rotatable forming block in the shape of a pair of coaxial conical surfaces abutted at the large ends thereof, a cradle structure for supporting and rotating said forming block, said cradle structure comprising two pairs of rotatable conical hardern'ng rollers, each in linear engagement with one of said pair of conical surfaces of said forming block, and means for oscillating each said hardening rollers in the direction of the respective longitudinal axis thereof.

14. In combination with a machine for manufacturing hat bodies, a forming device including a rotatable forming block in the shape of a pair of coaxial conical surfaces abutted at the large ends thereof, a cradle structure for supporting and rotating said forming block, said cradle structure comprising two pairs of rotatable conical rollers, each in linear engagement with one of said pairs of conical surfaces of said forming block, a pair of heated, conical hardening rollers.

'' each rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof and arranged at the upper side of one of said pair ofconioal surfaces of said forming block and in linear engagement therewith, and means for causing relative movement at the respective line of engagement between each said hardening rollers and the" conical surfaces of said forming block.

15. In combination with a machine for manufacturing hat bodies, a forming device including a rotatable forming block in the shape of a pair of coaxial conical surfaces abutted at the large ends thereof, a cradle structure for supporting and rotating said forming block, said cradle structure comprising two pairs of rotatable conical rollers, each in linear engagement with one of said pair of conical surfaces of said forming clock, a pair of heated conical hardening rollers, each rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof and arranged at the upper side of one of said pair of conical surfaces of said forming block and in linear engagement therewith, each said 11 hardening rollers being adapted to oscillate in the direction of the respective longitudinal axis thereof, and electromagnetic vibrator means for oscillating said hardening rollers.

16. In combination with a machine for manufacturing hat bodies, a forming device including a rotatable forming block in the shape of a pair of coaxial conical surfaces abutted at the large ends thereof, a cradle structure for supporting and rotating said forming block, said cradle structure comprising two pairs of rotatable conical rollers, each in linear engagement with one of said pair of conical surfaces of said forming block, a pair of conical hardening rollers, each rotatable about the longitudinal axis thereof and arranged at the upper side of one of said pair of conical surfaces of said forming block and in linear engagement therewith, means for oscillating each said hardening rollers in the direction of the respective longitudinal axis thereof, a pair of pivotable brackets, each for supporting one of said hardening rollers, and fluid motor means for pivoting said pair of brackets to cause disengagement of said hardening rollers from said forming bl ch.

17. In combination with a machine for manufacturing hat bodies, a forming device including a rotatable forming block in the shape of a pair of coaxial cones abutted at the large ends thereof, a plurality of conical rollers rotatable along the longitudinal axis thereof and in linear engagement with said forming block, at least a part of said rollers consisting of a pervious material affording passage to fluid under pressure, means for supplying heated fluid under pressure to the inside of said pervious material rollers, and vibrator means for causing said pervious material rollers to oscillate in the direction of the axis of rotation thereof.

18. In combination with a machine for manuiacturing hat bodies, a forming device including a rotatable forming block in the shape of a pair of coaxial cones abutted at the large ends thereof, means for causing rotation of said formin block about the longitudinal axis thereof, rubbing means in frictional engagement with said forming block adapted to exert an oscillatory rubbing action upon said forming block in a direction generally transverse to the direction of rotation thereof, asupport for each of said rubbing means, and electromagnetic vibrators for operating said rubbing means, each said rubbing means being associated with an individual electromagnetic vibrator and each said vibrators being supported by the support for one of said rubbing means.

19. In combination with a machine for manufacturing hat bodies, a forming block in the shape of a pair of coaxial conical surfaces abutted at the large ends thereof, two pairs of rotatable conical bottom rollers for supporting and rotating said forming block, each of said pairs of bottom rollers being in linear engagement with one of said pair or conical surfaces of said forming block, a pair of rotatable conical top rollers, one at the upper side of each of said pair of conical surfaces of said forming block and in linear engagement therewith, said bottom rollers and said top rollers being pervious to steam under pressure and adapted to be supplied with steam under pressure at the inside thereof, and means for causing relative frictional movement along the respective lines of engagement between the conical surfaces of said forming block and said bottom rollers and said top rollers.

20. In combination with a machine for manufacturing hat bodies, a forming block comprising an axially inner portion in the shape of a pair of coaxial conical surfaces abutted at the large ends thereof and axially outer portions of spherical shape, two pairs of rotatable bottom rollers for supporting and rotating said forming block, each in linear engagement with one of said conical surfaces of said forming bloclg, at least one of each said pairs of rollers being hollow and having a pervious surface, means for causing relative frictional movement along the lines of engagement between said hollow, pervious surface rollers and said conical surfaces of said forming block, a pair of hollow friction members, each having a pervious spherical surface adapted to engage one of said spherical portions of said forming block, a fulcrum means for each said friction members permitting oscillator niovemerit thereof about the center of curvature of one of said spherical portions of said. forming block, vibrator means for oscillating each said friction members, and means for supplying steam under pressure to the inside of said hollow, pervi ous surfacerollers and to the inside of said friction members to cause penetration of steam toward the forming block both at the axially inner portion and at the axially outer portions thereof,

21. In combination with a machine for manu facturing hat bodies, a forming block comprising an axially inner portion in the shape of a pair of coaxial cones abutted at the large ends thereof and axially outer portions of spherical shape, two pairs of rotatable conical bottom rollers for supporting and rotating said forming block, each said pairs of rollers being in linear engagement with one of said pair of conical surfaces of said forming block, a pair of internally heated spherical hardening elements, each adapted to engage one of said spherical portions of said forming block, and means for oscillating each said herening elements about one of two axes at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said forming block and intersecting said axis at the center of curvature of said spherical portions of said forming block.

MANFRED T. HOFFMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 212,910 Eickemeyer Mar. 4, 1379 251,469 Russell Dec. 27, 1881 424,661 Tapley Apr. 1, 1890 2,099,330 Corporon Nov. 16, 1937 2,323,234 Neeley June 29, 19 .3 

